Chapter 1618: Chapter 1619: What Kind of Expression Is That?
"Well said!" Your father slammed his hand on the table at that moment, startling everyone nearby.
Your mother gave your father an annoyed look and said to you, "That was something I said to encourage you back then, you’re not that crybaby anymore."
When you were little, you were timid and often bullied, which caused your parents a lot of worry.
"But Mom, you should know, this is a world where the strong prey on the weak, survival of the fittest! The weak can only wag their tails and plead, crawling on their knees. Let me be blunt, if Grandpa were just an ordinary veteran, if I were just an ordinary high school student, then Dad would likely have already perished in prison."
"Ptooey! Crow’s mouth!"
"It’s the truth, the world is inherently like this. Of course, if we were all ordinary people and lived an honest, straightforward life, normally no one would trouble us. However, it’s clear that’s not possible now."
"Listen to what you’re saying, like you’ve offended some big shot or something."
In fact, all parents in the world are the same; no one doesn’t want their children to succeed. Naturally, your mother is the same, except that what you’re involved in isn’t an ordinary job, always facing unknown situations, unknown people, unknown dangers.
You originally planned to tell your parents about your past, but after thinking it over, you decided against it. After all, you only shared simple things with Li Qiyi and Yan Zisu, and as for the important details, especially ones concerning your safety, you have never told anyone and absolutely cannot say.
Even if the Heavenly Fox knows you are one of the Netherworld’s Twelve Death Gods, they only know of your identity in the Netherworld. As to what you do there and the power you hold, even with their intelligence network, they can’t find out.
The Netherworld has existed for thousands of years due to its extremely tight organizational procedures. The Twelve Death Gods restrict and check each other, knowing little about one another. Besides the Queen of the Underworld, very few in the world know about them.
"Mom, I was just using it as an analogy, as you know. Be it Grandpa or Commander Du, eventually, they will all leave us. As their grandchild, I can benefit from their shelter, but what about my descendants?" You gathered your thoughts and continued, "This is as real as it gets; when the older generation passes away, the close-knit relationship among descendants won’t hold as tightly as before. The so-called ’a close neighbor is better than a distant relative’ is essentially about this."
She certainly understood the reasoning, though your mother had her own considerations: "Since you know all this, why don’t you start working hard now? With your intelligence and wisdom, couldn’t you surpass those social elites?"
"Surpass? How?"
"How to surpass?" Your mother got a bit irritated, hands on the table, staring at you, "By knowledge, by character, by education!"
"Ridiculous." You laughed immediately, "Mom, you want me to compete with those born with a silver spoon, who have bodyguards and maids around, using knowledge and character, with just a broken diploma? Don’t you know, if someone decides they don’t like me, a phone call can destroy a decade or even decades of my efforts!"
That’s the reality of the world, always has been!
Your mother was left speechless, unable to argue back, because what you said was the most common situation in the human world, true in any era or country.
You’ve also started to feel frustrated, staring at your mother, you continued, "Let me give an example. After years of research, Zisu finally made a significant scientific breakthrough, but her boss suddenly stole the credit, and what if this boss has an extremely deep background, what would you do?"
"Of course, I’d appeal."
"I told you, the boss’s background is deep!"
Your mother’s stubbornness kicked in, slapping the table she said, "I won’t believe it, I’ll use all my connections, post everywhere online, and make this issue known to the entire world."
At this, you laughed, shook your head slightly, and said nothing more.
"Brat, what is that expression?"
You waved your hand, "I’m not discussing this anymore, Mom, I really wonder if you’ve spent too much time at school, your perspective and thinking have become as naive as students’."
"What!? Say that again!"
Seeing your mother almost explode, your father quickly held her with both hands while signaling to you with his eyes.
"Old Li, don’t stop me!"
Your mother, after all, is just a woman. Though she’s usually bossy, her family tends to yield to her. Being held by your father, she couldn’t break free for a moment.
"You, where’s your motherly demeanor now."
"Why don’t you talk about this brat, he’s driving me crazy!" Since she was sensible, your mother had always lived smoothly, always the one oppressing others; this was the first time she was agitated like this, and it was even more frustrating because it was her own son causing it.
"Mu Yun, apologize to your mom now!"
You stuck out your tongue and casually said, "Sorry."
When apologizing, your eyes wandered off, showing not a hint of sincerity.
Seeing your attitude, your furious mother actually laughed, "Brat, you may not have other skills, but your eloquence is something. I’ve bantered with Zhao Lirong for over twenty years, yet I lose to a young brat like you."
You curled your lips in disdain, "Old Zhao? Usually, three sentences from me are enough to make her fume, Mom, your endurance is quite impressive already."
Calming down, your mother looked at you and asked, "What are you actually trying to say, just get to the point."
"Didn’t I just say it? I plan to return to the troops."
Your mother looked at you, asking, "Alright, even if we agree for you to return, tell me, what can you do in the troops? Go back to being a reconnaissance soldier? Licking blood off the blade every day?"
"Mom, let me be honest, it’s not as complicated as you think. When I say I’m returning to the troops, it’s not to re-enter the barracks but to assist my former comrades in solving their current problems and eliminating potential threats. Only by doing so can I continue to live in Yuhang."
Upon hearing your last sentence, both your mother and father’s brows furrowed.
The couple exchanged a glance but chose not to question further, knowing that with your character, even if they asked, you would not answer.
"In truth, completing this task benefits me far more than it harms. On one hand, I’ll be re-integrated into the troop’s system. With my rank, my family will receive military protection; on the other hand, I’ll persuade Commander Du to give me relative freedom." You added, "Mom, I also promised Zisu, I will participate in next year’s college entrance exam and accompany Zisu to Tianjing."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"Why didn’t you say so earlier?"
"I said it from the beginning, that I was going back to the troops for a mission."
"Anyway, I didn’t hear that."
You shrugged, knowing that reasoning with your mother was pointless and equivalent to seeking trouble for yourself.
The next morning, you got up before your parents, cooked millet porridge, heated some boiled eggs, and left the house.